William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap Stakes

15:25 Ripon Sat 15 Aug 2026 0m6f0y Class 2 Good 15 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Dark Cloud Rising

SPECULATIVE Advised 11/2 Est. 24%

6TH

Mr Fox says

Dark Cloud Rising (SR 98, 11/2) is the top-rated horse in the field and carries a very manageable 8-11 — a meaningful weight edge over Aramram (9-12) and Royal Zabeel (9-7) despite superior ability. The market has shortened 9% since opening, signalling informed confidence. Course form is outstanding: W1P2 at Ripon, the only runner with that level of course record at a notoriously specialist track. The visor is re-applied and Tudhope (16% career strike rate, elite jockey for the north) is an elite booking; the recent 12-day gap from a 1-3-2 sequence suggests a horse in form and freshened up rather than over-raced. Each-way alternative: Lord Roxby. Main danger: Lord Roxby — Lord Roxby (SR 97, 11/2) finished 1st last time out, owns W1P1 course form at Ripon, carries a feather 8-7 giving 4lb to Dark Cloud Rising, and has shortened 5% in the market — the light weight on a horse arriving in form at a track it handles is the most credible counter-argument to the selection.

Verify· #12494

Full result

Winner: Royal Zabeel at SP 17/2. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.